Paul O’Connell puts Munster crisis in perspective with great story about Donncha O’Callaghan’s debut

When you put it that way...

Paul O'Connell is back in Limerick to calm the seething masses. The former Munster and Ireland captain witnessed times rough and smooth during his 16-year rugby career. He retired as a Six Nations champion but a move to Toulon was ruined by the hamstring injury that prematurely ended his World Cup. O'Connell is back home to promote a clean up campaign in his native city and offered some wise words on the crises in Munster [European exit] and Irish Rugby [poor Six Nations start]. O'Connell admitted Munster were going through a very, very tough time. He reasoned that expectations of the Munster faithful were high as the province had enjoyed a sustained period of success for the best part of a decade. He told Limerick's Live95fm:

"I went along to Donncha O'Callaghan's Munster debut [in September 1998]. There must have been 400 or 500 people there for the game against Ulster. "If someone told you the world would be going on about how there were only 14,000 or 15,000 at a home game, you'd think they were crazy."

O'Connell is pleased that Conor Murray, James Cronin, Simon Zebo and Keith Earls all signed new contracts despite interest from abroad. "These guys want to win trophies with Munster," he said. As for Ireland, and their stuttering start to 2016, Paulie's confidence is not shook. https://twitter.com/oisinlangan/status/700612071650697216